Kovalchuk contract details: $4 million in Year 15

If he is still playing in the NHL at age 42, Ilya Kovalchuk will be paid $4 million in the walk year of his contract -- the 2025-26 season. That's according to a report on the website of Canada's Rogers Sportsnet.

The site credits its numbers to former NHL player-turned-reporter/analyst Nick Kypreos. According to Kypreos, here's the season-by-season salary breakdown of the 15-year, $100 million contract between Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils:

2010-11: $6 million

2011-12: $6 million

2012-13: $11 million

2013-14: $11.3 million

2014-15: $11.3 million

2015-16: $11.6 million

2016-17: $11.8 million

2017-18: $10 million

2018-19: $7 million

2020-21: $4 million

2021-22: $1 million

2022-23: $1 million

2023-24: $1 million

2024-25: $3 million

2025-26: $4 million

Other particulars: The contract is two years shorter and $2 million less than the original, which the NHL scotched for circumventing the collective bargaining agreement. It pays more in the final five years than the original, which included $550,000 per season during that time. And it bumps the contract's cap hit to $6.6 million; the original was at $6 million.

By the way, Boston Bruins forward Mark Recchi was 42 when he finished last season with 18 goals and 25 assists in 81 games. Recchi's contract was worth $1.7 million, salary and bonuses, according to Capgeek.com. And he is signed for the coming season to a deal that could pay him $1.95 million, salary and bonuses.